PROJECT: FSD Inception + Bale Mountains Eco-region REDD+ phase II Project

REPORTS TO: Filed Office Team Leader

REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: None

LOCATION: Bale and Guji-Borana Field Office

NUMBER REQUIRED: 2 (One for Bale and one for Guji-Borana Field Office)

DURATION: 6months with probation period of 60 working days, with high probability of extension based on availability of funds

BACKGROUND

Effective agriculture has the power to change lives. It underpins prosperity, food security and stability the world over. Farm Africa focuses on transforming agriculture and managing natural resources sustainably. We champion a holistic approach that boosts yields, protects the environment and connects smallholder farmers to thriving markets. We work with different types of farmers in a range of regions. Their local situations vary, but the problems they face are all too familiar: lack of training and technology, inadequate inputs, no finance, vulnerability to climate change and poor links to markets. We have an ambitious strategy to expand our work over the next five years. We’ll increase our impact. Lift more communities out of poverty. Work with more corporate partners who share our vision. Open up more agricultural markets. Provide more expertise. We’ll make change happen.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Farm Africa and SOS Sahel Ethiopia have been jointly implementing the Bale Mountains Eco-region REDD+ Project since 2012. The first phase of the project has demonstrated a model for institution building for integrated PFM-REDD+ implementation that has been adopted by the national REDD+ programme of the Government of Ethiopia. The current project, the Bale Eco-region REDD+ Project Phase II – funded by The Royal Norwegian Embassy is under implementation – builds on the progresses and achievements made in Phase I, and now at a crucial stage in ensuring the sustainability of Bale REDD+ project initiative through a gradual integration or nesting of it into the jurisdictional Oromia Forested Landscape Program (OFLP). The project implementation requires collaboration with multiple REDD+ stakeholders in the country, principally MEFCC, Oromia Environment, Forest and Climate Change Authority *OEFCCA), Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit (ORCU), The WBG, and the national REDD+ secretariat. The overall project implementation is coordinated by REDD+ coordination unit based in Addis Ababa while the direct activities implementation is carried out by the field team based in Robe, Bale and Guji-Borana field office to be established.

The overall responsibility of the position holder is to coordinate planning and execution of natural resource management through participatory forest and participatory rangeland management options. The position holder will work closely with woreda community development facilitators and other experts in crop, livestock and markets to ensure coordination and synergies of activities are correctly implemented. He/she will be specifically responsible in planning, execution of capacity building trainings, work with community members, organize forest and rangeland cooperatives, and provide technical support to government counterparts.

He/she will ensure that communities are actively engaged in forest conservation activities and improved natural resource management options. In coordination with the field office team leader/deputy team leader, he/she will ensure good partnership with government stakeholders, community members, CBOs, CSOs, private sectors and other relevant partners in the operational areas of the FSD+REDD+ phase II project.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONISBILITES

Key areas of responsibilities are:

Ensure timely project implementation at Woreda level

Work with the project team and government counterparts to achieve the project outputs/outcomes with the desired standards
Ensure adequate consultation and participation of woreda and kebele level stakeholders ensuring active participation of women in particular.
Facilitate identification of training needs, prepare training materials, and deliver trainings, business plan development and other services to CBOs and unions
Regularly undertake project implementation progress tacking and identify any bottlenecks hampering implementation paces so as to provide sufficient technical support to woreda community development facilitators to implement the activities.
Work closely with other senior project staffs at filed office and the POs, facilitate the design and implementation of CBO specific forest management plans in agreement with community and local government parties

Bring technical expertise to ensure high quality project delivery

Work with the project team and government counterparts to achieve the project outputs/outcomes with the desired standards
Ensure adequate consultation and participation of woreda and kebele level stakeholders ensuring active participation of women in particular.
Facilitate identification of training needs, prepare training materials, and deliver trainings, business plan development and other services to CBOs and unions
Regularly undertake project implementation progress tacking and identify any bottlenecks hampering implementation paces so as to provide sufficient technical support to woreda community development facilitators to implement the activities
Work closely with other senior project staffs at filed office and the POs, facilitate the design and implementation of CBO specific forest management plans in agreement with community and local government parties

Facilitate and coordinate community/institutional capacity building activities

Provide technical support to woreda level technical staff and government staff in the implementation of watershed management, forest and other natural resource conservation and land use planning.
Organise and coordinate capacity building trainings and workshop for beneficiaries, consortium partners, CBOs, private sectors on the improved agronomic and livestock practices and support.
Support participatory community monitoring in PFM Kebeles,
Mentoring and support PFMCs business planning and implementation.

Contribute to project management and reporting

Participate in assessment, design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation processes of the project activities in collaboration with other experts and project staff.
Prepare and develop status reports as required by project management.
Ensure proper recording and documentation of best practices and success stories
Ensure that the project implemented according to work-plan and project framework.
Monitor and document the project progress, lessons, good experience and impact with rural communities.

Play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Project team

Identify and explore opportunities to improve project implementation and guarantee it’s sustainability
Keep up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice to ensure ongoing organizational and personal development and learning is realized;
Identify and explore opportunities to grow and expand the country project pipeline, both in relation to the current project (e.g., potential scale-up opportunities, replication in other geographies/regions) or related to new project opportunities
Pro-actively share information with other project and consortium partner staff members to support Farm Africa’s aims
Participate in broader Farm Africa meetings with other project staff members, as requested by line manager.
These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

Job Requirements

Education, Qualifications & other knowledge

Essential

• BSc in, forestry, Natural Resources Management, Rural development, Rangeland, Livelihoods and other related fields.
• Knowledge of Forestry policy in Ethiopia
• Knowledge of gender and social inclusiveness

Desirable

• BSc and above

Experience

Essential

• Four years’ work experience in rural development or similar organizations
• Experience in the area of natural resources management, small business group development, agro-forestry and good knowledge of gender and social inclusiveness and organizational capacity building of community-based institutions
• Experience of project planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation
• Experience working in the area of value chain and economic strengthening of rural community

Desirable

• Previous NGO work experience in rural setting

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Very good English language skills (written and spoken)
• Computer literacy, excellent record keeping and report writing
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good team building skills and the ability to work in a multi partner approach
• Budget and financial management, training need assessment and training facilitation
• Willingness to reside in rural/marginal areas, ability to work with minimum supervision
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Farm Africa
• Good community level facilitation and coordination skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of local language

OUR VALUES

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

EXPERT. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.

GROUNDED. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.

IMPACTFUL. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families.

BOLD. We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.